Machine for turning and binding the edges of leather



A ril 21, 1942. 1.. JJNOECKER MACHINE FOR TURNING AND BIND ING THE EDGES OF LEATHER gm; E N M w l N M r W My M m N 6 .Ayfi S 6 v S A r 3 3 W Filed Feb 25, 1941 April 21, 1942. 'J NQECKEQR 2,280,346

MACHINE FOR TURNING AND BINDING THE EDGES OF LEATHER Filed Feb. 25, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I \4 4 2 63 A a3 i 33 40 M [X I AW 1 5 4/ 49 I" v \'I uh a Pat nted Apr. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES, ATENT OFFICE it a v I 2,280,546. 1 i l I menmzwemmmm AND BINDING THE \AEDQES 015' LEATHER Louis J JNoecker, St. Clair, Mo.

' Application The present invention relates generallv to a machine for use in the shoe industry, and is an improvement over the type illustrated and described in Letters Patent No. 2,198,456, granted to meon April 23, 1940; l p

The general objects of this invention are there-.

fore similar to those set forth in my said patent,

but the mechanism employed is-of much simpler and more compact construction, and is capable ,ofgturning and binding edges of leath'ermore efficiently and; moretcertainly. i

In the shoeand kindred leather goods, industriesapieces ofleather having a raw or unfinished edge or edges, ;ordinarily are provided with a line 7 of stitchingadjaoent such edges to impart a finished appearance thereto, the marginalpon tion of the edge having first been creased. and

The machine of the present invention enables an-operatorto turn and bind the raw edges of .van ps,1 quarters, or other parts of the uppers of shoes, slippers, eta, .inasingle .cyclepobviating theneoessity of stitching. Obvious-ly, fOj' CllIS, fonornarfnental; purposes,- the, .leather may be {subsequently ;.sti tchedg around the edgeif (desired.

[ The bindingof the turned-ingportionlis effected V by applying a quick dryin-g paste thereto, before submitting the leatherto thefaction or the machine. ;.In operation, a narrow marginal por .tiontowhichsuch pastehas been applied, is

turned; inwand; bound by pressure, all in'zone. continuousucyclaso that-when! the. leat-her is removed from the machine. the. otherwise fraw edge appears .a "siiriooth; finished edge.

e moving parts o-t. the ,machine are so colnated to operate in cycles, at the will of l a er or.

ing mechanism to .f-unction and then to be. automatically arrested in movement at" the close of ,1 leather waryinginthickness. l

,Another feature is that-various sizesa-ndshapes Clutch mechanism is provided, I operable-by the attendant, which causes the movv ponent;

February 25, 1941, Serial No. ceases Claims. (01.12 55) Fig 2 is-a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;. p

Fig. '4 is a similar view taken .on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 5-5 f Fig. 2; l

f Fig. 6is a similar view taken on line 6-6 of Fig.3; p

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a clutch com- Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the machine} V Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken .on line fi- -flof Fig.3;

Fig. .10 isa rear view of the machine, taken on line Eli-10 of Fig.

Fig. .11 is a plan view on an enlarged scale, of a die assembly mountedyin operative position; Figs. 12 and 13 are .verticalsectional views taken'respectively on lines 12-42 and 13-43 of plan view on a similar scale, of a f orming block assembly mounted in position to cooperate with said die assembly;

' Figx15 is a vertical sectional view taken on line [5 15 of Fig. 14; i i 1 [Figs l6-is a fragmentary view, of a piece of leather having adhesive applied to a. marginal portion thereof, as indicatedby the stippli-ng;

' Fig. lfl'is'afview of the same piece of material after it has been subjected to the action of my machine;

Figs. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are fragmentary sectional views "illustrating successive steps in the turning and binding operation. Figs.

1 of forming dies and cooperating. torming jolock assemblies, relatively adjustabla -m'ay beeasily amounted on Land removed from the machine. 1 Qther advantages will l-beyyapparent or pointed out in the following description a-nd the accom- I 1. nyinggdrawings, forming partof this specifica :tioin (Similar reference characters designatesim- 1118.11 parts throughout the drawings, in which- Fig. l is as e. ,elevationalview :of the machine,

I; wit fheformlrlg die'gin elevated position';

"23 and 24 being'enlarged for the purpose of clarity; l

Fig. 25 isa view similar to Fig. (Lillustrating the position of a roller and cam arrangement immediately following a completed cycle;

"Fig-26 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 14', showing another of various forming block assemblies 1 which may be employed, obviously of course, with a corresponding die assemblies; 1

.Figsr27 and 28arev'1ews similar to Figs. 16 and 1'7 obtaining when the Fig. 216 arrangement is employed; i

h Fig. 29 is a view similar to Fig. 17, illustrating another configuration. 1

Referring now to the drawings more particularly .by-reference characters, numeral 30.:indicates the base orworktable portion 'of-the machine, which is provided with supporting legs or standard 3 e ly mo nted on said :base

as by bolts 32, is a frame or housing generally indicated 33 which supports a horizontal shaft 34 in suitable bearings 35. A complete revolution of said shaft constitutes a cycle.

Aflixed to the forward end of the shaft 34, as by a key and screw, is a circular plate or disc 36, having a cam groove 31 formed therein. Adjacent t-he rear bearing 35, the shaft has a cam disc 38 afiixed thereto by a set screw 39. A collar 49 with an internal annular groove 4|, is keyed as shown, or otherwise secured to said shaft between disc 38 and a continuously rotating pulley 42, a collar and set screw arrangement 43 maintaining the parts in proper relation. The pulley, freely rotatable on the shaft, is driven by a belt 44 from any suitable sourceof power, and at a predetermined suitable speed.

In order to cause the shaft 34 to make one complete revolution, and then to be automatically arrested, means are provided enabling the attendant to operate a clutch mechanism now to be described.

The collar 40 is provided with a horizontal slot 45 wherein a key 46 (Fig. 7), is positioned. A spring 41, seated in a socket 48 and bearing against the forward wall of said slot, normally maintains the key to the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, in engagement with one of a pair of pins 49, fixed on pulley 42, whereby the shaft is rotated with the latter until said key is shifted to the left by means to be described.

Clutch key 46 has a notch or cutout portion 50, the left hand wall of which is beveled or inclined as indicated at A lever 52, provided with a handle 53, is pivotally mounted at 54 on one side wall 55 of housing 33. The end of the lever remote from the handle, and designated 56. beveled as at 51, is normally maintained in the annular groove 4| by means of a spring 58 interposed between the lever and an integral lug 59 the cam plate 36 in cooperation with a roller 64 rotatably mounted on a stud 65 fixed to said crosshead, the roller working in the cam groove 31.

Fixed to the lower end of the crosshead by screws or otherwise, is a plate 66 provided with means whereby a selected forming die assembly may 'be removably mounted thereon. As illustrated particularly in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, plate 66 is provided midway along its front edge with a recess 61, each of whose side walls includes an undercut portion .68 and an inwardly extending ledge portion 69. v

The forming die supporting block includes an upper portion which dovetails into the recess 61, and a depending portion 7! of a configuration corresponding to that of the die. In other words, the upper portion 10 of any selected block is always identical, whereas the depending portion H always correspondsin shape to that of the forming die which it carries. By this arrangement, any one of a plurality of dies may be mounted on said plate 66. In the embodiment primarily illustrated, the forming die is shaped to produce the finished edge of Fig. 1'7; to produce the finished edge of Fig. 29, the die would be substantially V-shaped.

As shown particularly in Figs. 12 and 13, the die 12 is made of relatively thin, spring metal material, its lower edge being rounded and inturned as at 13. The die is secured to the correspondingly shaped depending portion H of the supporting block by screws 14 or other fastening means.

It is here noted that the forming die may be made in, sections if desired. Also, portion 13 thereof may be provided with serrations, similar to those provided on the die illustrated in my said Patent No. 2,198,456.

Proper positioning of a selected die block is provided for by having a notch 15, preferably V-shaped, formed in said block, adapted to be engaged by the similarly shaped extremity 16 of a bar or rod I! normally forced inwardly, that is toward the longitudinal center line of the machine, by a spring 18. Said spring is anchored at one end to plate 66, and at its other to a manually operable lever 79, pivoted at to an extension 8| of said plate. A' pin and slot connection 82 between bar 11 and lever '19 permits the attendant, at will, to withdraw the bar from engagement with the notch 15, whereupon the die blo'ck may be removed.

Mounting of a selected die block is extremely simple, requiring only its insertion in the undercut slideway 68, and inward pressure until the extremity 16 enters the notch 15. The attendant can feel the block snap into place by this arrangement, obviating improper mounting with resultant harm to the die or other parts in operation.

A forming block assembly, generally indicated 83, includes two complemental members (Figs. 14 and 15), one of which designated 84 is adjustably and removably mounted on the base or table 38, the other, 85, on a vertically reciprocable horizontal plate 86, working in a recess 81 provided therefor in said base.

Member 84, hereinafter'called the guide block, since it has a rounded, internal, beveled edge 88 adapted to properly guide the forming die in operation, includes an integral depending portion 89 which dovetails into an undercut groove 90 formed in the base 30. The configuration of the edge 88 corresponds to that of the forming die. Adjustmentis obtained by means of slot 9| and screw 92, the latter maintaining'the block in properly adjusted position.

Member 85,- hereinafter called the pressure plate, has an external edge portion 93, corresponding in shape to, but slightly spaced from the edge 88 of the guide block. Proper spacing of said members is obtained and maintained also by means of slot 94 and screw 95. The pressure plate has a depending portion 96, which dovetails into an undercut groove 91 in the horizontal plate 86. i

It is thus seen that the block assembly may be attached and detached, and adjusted relative to its own components as well as to the die. Obviously adjustments are made with the power shut off until perfect alinement is had.

The guide block 85 includes a raised gauge portion 98 against which the attendant abuts the raw edge ofthe leather to be turned. Preferably, the peripheral portion 93 of the pressure plate is rounded as at 99, and provided with spaced identations I00 along its bottom edge. The indentations are not necessary when a straight die and forming block arrangement is employed, such as that 'suggeste'd in Ffig- ZBQIn the Fig. 3 1'4 embodiment; the indentations or notches IIlll "are space'd'approximately "twenty degree's 'apart.

1 The plate as is f ormed integrally with or secured permanently to "a vertical plunger )Ill l, working in 'acylinder I02 secured to the underside of the base 30 by bolts N13. Means for raisone-end ofa lever I04 pivoted at "I05 between a pair ofears I 06 depending from base .30. -A

similar slot is formed in the cylinder IIlZQboth slots being in alinement. The plunger also has a threaded bore I08, into whichfis threaded an adjustment screw II'I9 having a handwheel 1 I within easy reach of the operator; l The other end of the lever I-M has a pivota connection I I I with avertically disposed 'barI I2 on the "rear wall of housing33, which is held inplaceby ascrew I I3 and-a pair of guides II- l formed on sa'id wall. The upper endpi the bar has a bifurcated portion H supporting a cam roller IIG on a. pin I II. As shown particularly .inFigulO, plate 38 is -provided with a gradually increasing, then diminishing "(in diameter) cam portionf I I 8, and a relatively small cam lobe I I9,

each of which engage the roller H6 once during each cycle of operation.

Aspring I20,bearing againstlever arm I04 at its lower end and against theunderside ofbase 3|] at its upper end, =maintains said arm in abutting relation to screw I09, and at the same time maintains constant "engagement between the the leathers a'cted upon,"which' correspond to those illustrated in- Figs. 14, *16, and'l'l, are identified by the samereference characters with appended symbols.

"The operation of the machine is as follows: 1 Assumingthat a piece of leather, suchas that designated 1a in Fig; 16, has an edge corresponding 'to that ofthe forming die, the surface adjacent said edge is first supplied with a suitable paste orcement, indicated by the stippling b. The leather is then placed on the forming block assembly 83, with its paste treated side up, gauge 98 enabling the "operator to properlyposition same (Figs; and 18). The operator now, by means 0f handle 53 which he presses inwardly,

'orto the left as viewed in Fig. 8; withdraws the beveled extremity 51 of the lever 52 from engagement with the similarly beveledfportion of clutch element 46; Immediate1y,spring41forces key 46 to the right (Fig. 9), into the path of and engagement with one of thepins IB of the continuously rotating pulley 42, causing the shaft 34 to rotate, in thedirectionindicated by arrows.

Cam disc 36 rotates with the shaft, its'cam groove 31 controlling the vertical reciprocation of crosshead 60, the initial movement ofwhich isdownward. Immediatelyiollowing such movement of "the crosshead, the attendant releases the leather.

groove 4 I, :in position to arrest further rotation of the shaft once an entire-revolution thereof has been completed. Itis here noted .that this precise clutch arrangement is notessential. A

treadle-controlled clutch, or other arrangement,

of the cam groove 31 toward portion I123 thereof (Fig. 6). i

Fig. 19 shows the :die, still in descent, engaging the :edge of the leather-approximately centrally of the pasted portion b thereof. It is noted that the rounded portion 99 lot-the external edge 530i :pressure plate is so located that .it :will cause the die to spring outwardly a slight distance, approximately equal to the thickness of A definite creasing of the leather is thus attained. 'Uponrurther descent of the die, as shown in .Fig. .20, portion 13 thereof and the creased edge of the leather will contact the beveled guidi g portion of block 84. 'I'hereupon, as illustrated in Fig. 21, portion 13 and the now folded marginal edge of leather are guided into the space provided therefor by a slight elevation ofthe pressure plate .85, secured @on member 86 whose movements are regulated by the cam p1ate38.

Fig. ZI-illustrates the end of the initial-descent of die'I 2. At this time, roller 264 has arrived at iregion 1-23 :of eam groove 31. At the same time, cam lobe :I-I-S .isin contact 'with roller -I I6, depressing bar H2 and amusing the lever I M to raise plunger Ifl-I :a distance predetermined by the thickness of the leather. Adjustments for various thicknesses are made by means :of the handwheel I'll) associated with the adjusting screw. At this period of the operation, any bunching of the material at .-the curve .isgtaken care of by the spaced indentations Hill, which permit entry ofthe excess leather aslshown.

Further rotation of the :shaft 34 produces the condition illustrated in Fig. .22. Immediately following the Fig. .21 condition, the cam lobe I I9 travels beyond roller Ill-5,, whereupon the spring I2!) exerts a downward pressure on arm M L-and therefor depresses plate 85. Thus the now folded edge of leather is .heldfirmlyin place, permitting forming die 12 to .be withdrawn upwardly. The

die continues its ascent until roller 64 reaches tio L24 ofcamgroove31,.W11ereupon the die begins its second descent, as roller 54 approach- .es portion I25 of said cam groove.

. Obviously the pressure exerted by plate-85 duringuthis interval efiectsthe adhesion of thejmar- .gi'nal portion and the adjacent body of leather,

so that said plate may :now betraised, the leather remaining ,in. position, as shown in Fig. 23.

. Aninspection of .cam surface H8 is invited.

It extends approximately one-fourth the periph ery of-cam plate .38 and plate {8.5 begins its ascent whenroller .iidleeizesportion I24 of cam.

roove 37,.and is then held in itselevated position for the duration of the final function-ofthe forming die, shown in Fig. 24, whichwill be'described.

Referring again to Fig. die i2 is seen to be descending, with its inturnededge 1.3 riding along thelperipheryof the elevatedplate' 85. .Asstated 'above, at this time, roller 6'4 is approachingfporhandle 53, -=whereupon spring 58 3 causes lsaid beveled extremity of lever ":52 :to reenter the 'tion I25 ofthe camgroove. Further rotation of shaft 34 causes the resilient inturned portion 13 of the die to firmly and positively bind the pasted and folded marginal portions of the leather, producing the result indicated in Fig. 17. Thereafter, the die is'returned to its elevated (Fig. 1),

.position, the roller fi l-being forced inwardly (upment of the die and forming block assemblies are readily obtainable with the adjustments provided. The facilitiesfor'mounting and removing such assemblies are simple. When irregular or intricate patterns are contemplated, the die may be made in sections.

Various modifications of the mechanism illustrated are possible within the scope of my invention I do not therefore desire to be limited to the'precise constructions illustrated and described. 1

I claim:

1. In a machine for turning and binding edge portions of pieces of leather, a forming block assembly adapted to have positioned thereon a piece of leather whose marginal portion ha been supplied with an adhesive, a gauge included in the forming block assembly for properly positioning the leather, a resilient forming die adaptedto engage and crease said marginal portion of the leather, an adjustably mounted guide block having a rounded beveled edge adapted to conduct said creased marginal portion into a space provided therefor between the base of the machine and a pressureplate included in said formingblock assembly, the pressure plate being adjustably'mounted on a platform supported on the upper end of a plunger whose vertical move- 'ments are regulated by a cam and roller arrangement, the cam being secured to a horizontal shaft rotatable at will, and the roller being supported in the upper end of a bar whose lower end is connected to one end of a pivoted lever, the other end of which is adjustably connected with said plunger.

2. In a machine for turning and binding the edge portions of pieces of leather, a forming block assembly including a gauge portion and adapted.

to have positioned thereon a piece of leather whose marginal portion has been supplied with an adhesive, said forming block assembly also including a guide block having a recessed portion corresponding in shape to that of said marginal.

portion of leather,'and a pressure plate provided with a peripheral portion likewise corresponding in shape to that of said marginal portion of leather, a complemental forming die of resilient material, a cam arrangement for reciprocating said pressure plate at predetermined intervals, mechanism for moving said forming die into engagement with the leather to fold and bind the same, for withdrawing the die from such engagement, for again moving the die into engagement with the folded edge of leather to exert external pressure thereon, and then for returning it. to its initial position.

3. In a machine for turning and binding the edge portion of a piece of leather, a forming block assembly including a gauge portion and adapted to have positioned thereon a piece of leather whose marginal portion has been supplied with paste, said forming block assembly also including a guide block having a bevel edged recess portion of a contour similar to that of said marginal portion of leather, and a cooperating pressure plate having a complemental peripheral edge, the latter rounded along its upper margin and provided with spaced notches along its lower margin, a resilient forming die, means for causing the lower inturned portion thereof to engage the leather and then crease the same along the rounded upper marginal periphery of said pressure plate, and thereafter to force the creased edge against the bevel edged recess portion of the guide block to fold the same, a cam arrangement for then elevating the pressure plate a predetermined distance to provide a space into which the said lower inturned portion of the forming die forces the now folded edge of leather and for thereafter lowering the pressure plate, and a spring arranged and adapted for maintaining the pressure plate in contact with said edge while the die is withdrawn.

4. A machine for turning and binding the edge portions of pieces of sheet material including a bed, having an undercut groove formed therein, a'recessed guide block having a depending portion which dovetails into said undercut groove supported on the bed, a pressure plate positioned above the guide block, means whereby the former .and the latter may be adjusted relative'to one another, a forming die supported above the guide block and the pressure plate having a resilient blade with an inwardly curved lower edge, positioned, proportioned, and adapted when lowered to wipe the edge of the pressure plate and then engage the surface of the recess of said guide block beneath the edge of the pressure plate,

ered to wipe the edge of the pressure plate and then engage the surface of the recess of said guide block beneath the edge of the pressure plate, and operating mechanism for separately reciprocating the forming die and the pressure plate,

said mechanism including a cam formed to cause said pressure plate to be held elevated above the recess in the guide block during a descent of the die, and then to be lowered and held in lowered position during an ascent of the die.

6. A machine for turning and binding the edge portions of pieces of sheet material including a bed, a recessed guide block supported on the bed, -a pressure plate positioned above the guide block, a forming die supported above the guide block and the pressure plate having a-resilient blade with an inwardly curved lower edge, positioned, proportioned, and adapted when lowered to wipe the edge of the pressure plate and then engage the surface of the recess of said guide block beneath the edge of the pressure plate, and operating mechanism for separately reciprocating the forming die and the pressure plate,

said mechanism including a cam formed to cause recess in the guide block during an initial descent of the die, then to be lowered and held in such position during an ascent of the die, and then to be raised and held in raised position during a second descent and subsequent ascent of the die. l

'7. A machine for turning and binding the edge portion of pieces of leather including a base, a forming block assembly mounted thereon, a gauge for properly positioning the material with its marginal portion supplied with paste on said assembly, a resilient forming die, .a rotatable shaft, a cam and roller assembly operated from said shaft for reciprocating said die to fold and i5 bind said marginal portion of the material, cam mechanism operated by said shaft for causing a pressure plate included in said forming block assembly to cooperate with the die and a guide block also included in said assembly, during the folding and binding operation, manually adjustable means for predetermining the vertical reciprocation of said pressure plate, and clutch mechanism, operable at will, for placing said shaft in rotation and acting automatically to arrest-its rotation following the reciprocations of the forming die and the pressure plate required to complete a cycle of operation.

LOUIS J. NOECKER. 

